Dick Vitale Celebrates His Return to Duke: Rings Victory Bell at Iconic Cameron Indoor Stadium!

On Saturday, Dick Vitale, a beloved ESPN broadcaster and Hall of Famer, returned to Cameron Indoor Stadium. At 85, he has spent many years calling thrilling Duke basketball games at this iconic venue.

Vitale shared exciting news with fans: after a tough three-year battle with cancer, he announced he is now cancer-free. He celebrated this milestone just before the Duke vs. Stanford game. During the pre-game festivities, he became only the third person to ring the victory bell in the arena, a moment filled with joy and significance for him.

Reflecting on his time at Duke, Vitale said, “It’s exciting. I had a lot of great memories here. And I’m looking forward to having one today. It’s really great being here.” His enthusiasm was palpable as he returned to a place he holds dear.

The game itself was a success for Duke, who defeated Stanford decisively, 106-70.

Vitale’s return to broadcasting this month, after nearly two years away, was met with heartfelt applause from the crowd. His journey through cancer has been challenging. He faced four different types over three years. It all began in 2021 when he was diagnosed with lymphoma after multiple surgeries to remove melanoma. He briefly celebrated being cancer-free in 2022, but was later diagnosed with vocal cord cancer in 2023, which required radiation treatments.

His last assignment before his hiatus was the national championship game between San Diego State and UConn on April 3, 2023. After all he has endured, the announcement of his recovery in November 2023 is a hopeful conclusion to his battle.